WSOU

2021 Pirate Player Preview: Curtessia Dean

Date: September 1, 2021

By: Jorie Mickens

Curtessia Dean dribbles on the court through defenders during a basketball game.

NJCAA

Last year, JUCO transfer Curtessia Dean spent the entirety of her season sidelined with an injury. But as the 2021-22 season approaches, Dean will finally have an opportunity to make her debut with the Pirates.

Prior to Seton Hall, Dean was a standout player for Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas. As a freshman, Dean started 29 of the team’s 34 games and led the Cardinals in scoring at 17.6 points-per-game while shooting 44% from the field and 75% from the free throw line. On three separate occasions, Dean totaled 30 or more points in a game, including a career-high 38 points in her first collegiate game against Grayson College.

Seton Hall's Curtessia Dean scores a layup during a game.

Travis Tapely

In her freshman year alone, Dean racked up multiple end-of-season awards including a WBCA All-America First Team selection, a NJCAA All-America Third Team selection and a spot on the All-Region First Team.

During Dean’s sophomore season, she upped both her points-per-game average (19.3) and field goal percentage (45%) while leading Trinity Valley to a 32-1 overall record. Unfortunately for the Cardinals though, their season was cut short because of the COVID-19 pandemic and did not compete in their conference tournament.

But once again, Dean was recognized for her abilities on the court as she was named the Trinity Valley Community College Female Athlete of the Year.

All that said though, the past is the past, the Pirates need Dean to contribute right now. Luckily for them, the redshirt junior has multiple facets to her game.

When Dean initially transferred to Seton Hall, head coach Anthony Bozzella praised her ability to both score and rebound the ball. Standing at 5-foot-10, the Louisiana native is a physically imposing presence with the skillset of a guard.

Dean can put the ball on the floor and get to the rim while maintaining the ability to stretch the floor to three-point territory. Dean may not be a top scoring option for the Pirates this season, but when called upon, she could come through for the Pirates in a big way.

In terms of her rebounding, with two of Seton Hall’s top-three leading rebounders from last season now gone, the Pirates will need a conceited effort on the glass this year.

Dean averaged 4.2 rebounds-per-game as a freshman and 5.6 per-game as a sophomore. If her rebounding prowess can translate to the Big East, the Pirates should be good in that department.

And lastly, Dean could make a huge defensive impact for the Pirates this season. With Desiree Elmore, one of Seton Hall’s best all-around defenders from last season now playing for Rhode Island, the Pirates need someone to fulfill that Swiss Army knife role. Dean’s defensive instincts helped her average 1.6 steals and 0.5 blocks a night during her sophomore season at TVCC. That side of the ball is where Dean could make her mark for the Pirates.

Dean is one of the more intriguing players for Seton Hall this year for the simple fact that we haven’t seen her in a Pirates’ uniform yet. But Dean’s game speaks for itself, and if she has fully recovered from her injury, expect big things from her this season.

Jorie Mickens is an Assistant Sports Director for WSOU Sports and can be reached at jorie.mickens@student.shu.edu.

Posted in: Sports, Women's Basketball, WSOU

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